Robert Kirsch-Spring

Project Description

B.Ed. Music (York U – in progress)B.A. (University of Guelph)

Rob is a drummer and composer, specializing in jazz, free music, R&B, funk and folk music. He has composed for and recorded with the likes of Bolete, Emily & the Mainlanders, Vulpis Vulpis, Sam Keshen and the Vybe Tribe. He is currently completing York University’s Bachelor of Education program, after which he will be a certified high school music teacher.

Rob’s approach to teaching uses the interests of his students as media for learning musical concepts and techniques. Together, he and his students extract lessons from a list of songs and genres that the student puts together. Rob develops his students’ “ear” for aural learning as well as their ability learn from written notation. Composition and improvisation are ongoing focuses of his teaching.

Hi everyone. Here is the practise log for the next 4 weeks. Please bring it to your next lesson. Thanks! -Rob

Kaden

“Working up to Jazz” worksheet, #1-4 only

Play along to a metronome where clicks = triplets at 80 bpm. Once you have played through the four lines at this tempo, play them all again but 5 bpm faster. Do this until you are playing them at 125 bpm.

For the 4th line, I want you to be able to play it at 150 bpm. I know that sounds fast, but we’re going to eventually start using the metronome as quarter notes instead of triplets. 150 bpm of triplets = 50 bpm of quarter notes. 50 bpm? Piece of cake.

Count triplets out loud for one bar before you come in AND continue as you play.

Right hand on the ride cymbal.

Mateo

“1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +” Pattern

Count out loud one time through before you come in AND continue as you play.

Play the hi-hat on every beat.

When you’re ready, add the bass drum on beats 1 and 3.

When you’re ready, add the snare drum on beats 2 and 4.

Play along to a metronome. Start at 70 bpm and work your way up to 100.

Ella

Please prepare a list of 5 songs you’d like to learn to play.

“Hotel California – Filling” worksheet

Count 8th notes out loud for one bar before you come in AND continue as you play.

I want you to be able to play the main beat (#1) along to a metronome at 8th note = 160 bpm. Start at 110 and bump up the speed by 5 bpm until you get to 145 (the song’s actual tempo). This will take time. Try to get it a little faster each time you practise.

Also play along to a metronome at 110 bpm for the filling exercises. You don’t have to increase the tempo if you don’t want to; it’s your choice.

Remember: other than making sure you’re playing in time, don’t think about what you’re going to play for your drum fill. Just let it come naturally and follow your body.

Sylvie

“Basic Beats” worksheet, all patterns

Count 8th notes out loud for one bar before you come in AND continue as you play.

Play to a metronome at 8th notes = 110 bpm. Once you have played through all the patterns, play them again but at 115 bpm. Then 120 bpm. Do this until you get to 135.

Kaden

When you’re first practising these patterns, you can use what ever sticking is easiest, but I eventually want you to be able to play them using alternate sticking (both R-L-R-L-… and L-R-L-R-…).

Play along to a metronome at 110 where each click is a triplet (not a quarter note). Then bump the tempo up to 115. Then 120. Then play along to Gravity by John Mayer.

Mateo

“1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +” Pattern

Play the hi-hat on every beat.

When you’re ready, add the bass drum on beats 1 and 3.

When you’re ready, add the snare drum on beats 2 and 4.

Play along to a metronome. Start at 70 bpm and work your way up to 100.

Ella

In general, be careful not to “drag the time” (slow down). Pay attention to this in your practising.

“Hotel California – Filling” worksheet

Try practising along to the recording. If it’s too fast, you can play the patterns more slowly with a metronome. The song’s tempo (speed) is 75 bpm, so if you’re using the metronome, try playing it at 70. If that’s still too fast, slow it down more.

Sylvie

“Basic Beats” worksheet, #5-9

Count “1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +” out loud.

Play to a metronome where each click equals an 8th note – “1” (click), “and” (click), “2” (click), “and” (click), “3” (click), “and” (click), “4” (click), “and” (click). Start with the metronome at 70 bpm. Once you’re comfortable at that speed, bump it up to 75 bpm. Then 80 bpm. Do this until you get to 100. You don’t need to go faster than that.

Kaden

When you’re first practising these patterns, you can use what ever sticking is easiest, but I eventually want you to be able to play them using alternate sticking (both R-L-R-L-… and L-R-L-R-…).

Play along to a metronome at 110 where each click is a triplet (not a quarter note). Then bump the tempo up to 115. Then 120. Then play along to Gravity by John Mayer.

Mateo

For Mom: Here is an article written by a music educator that offers insights about motivating children to practice. The author recommends that the success of a practise session be measured by the musical goals accomplished and not by how long the practising went on for. This is why I have stopped assigning a designated time length for practising (no more 30 minutes per day, etc.). Using this approach, Mateo would establish goals for each practise session by choosing which parts of the homework he would like to practise that day. I am reluctant to include a day-by-day practise schedule in these homework posts because it may be too inflexible for Mateo, or any child, to properly follow. Because Mateo knows his schedule better than I do, I think it would be best for Mateo, or you and Mateo, to divide the homework according to how many days he expects himself to practise that week. What do you think of this? You can reach me at [email protected] if you would like to chat.

Count each number at the same time the metronome clicks – “1” (click), “2” (click).

When you can play the patterns at that speed, put the metronome to 75 bpm and do it again. When you can do that, play the patterns at 80 bpm. Continue to increase the speed by increments of 5 bpm until you get to 100.

“1 + 2 +” (1 and 2 and) Pattern

When you see a plus sign (+), it just means “and”.

Play the hi-hat on everything (1, and, 2, and).

When you’re ready, add the bass drum on beat 1.

When you’re ready, add the snare drum on beat 2.

Play along to the metronome. Count the clicks with “1 and 2 and”. Each click is a note – “1” (click), “and” (click), “2” (click), “and” (click). Again: start at 70 bpm and work your way up to 100.

Ella

“Hotel California – Filling” worksheet

Try practising along to the recording. If it’s too fast, you can play the patterns more slowly with a metronome. The song’s tempo (speed) is 75 bpm, so try playing it at 70. If that’s still too fast, slow it down more.

Sylvie

“Basic Beats” worksheet

Count “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” out loud.

Sometimes play with a metronome. Sometimes play without one.

When you play with a metronome, your counting and the metronome’s clicking should line up. Each click is a note – “1” (click), “and” (click), “2” (click), “and” (click), “3” (click), “and” (click), “4” (click), “and” (click). Start with the metronome at 60 bpm (beats per minute). Once you’re comfortable at that speed, bump it up to 65 bpm. Then 70 bpm. Do this until you get to 80. You don’t need to go faster than that.

September 20-25

Ezra

Play triplets on the snare drum or floor tom (you choose), alternating your hands (left, right, left right, etc.). Count “1-trip-let, 2-trip-let, 3-trip-let” out loud as you play. Play along to a metronome at 50 bpm and try to get it up to 70 bpm. If you don’t have a metronome, you can use this online one.

Elora

Make sure you know which 5 songs you want to learn to play. We’ll be discussing them on Wednesday.

For lessons tomorrow

Hey Ezra and Elora,

I already told Ezra this, but I would like both of you to come to your lesson tomorrow with at least 5 songs that you would like to learn to play (or that you just enjoy). The level of difficulty doesn’t matter; I can teach you easier versions of the drum parts that still sound good when you play them along to the song.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Rob

JUNE 8-13 HOMEWORK

Hi everyone. Please print this new practice log for the coming weeks. Bring it to every lesson and don’t forget to have a parent/guardian sign off on each day, even if you didn’t practice. Thanks! -Rob

Ezra

Basic Beats + fills

Before you start playing, listen to the song for a bit and try to identify when the snare drum is playing. This will tell you where beats “2” and “4” are.

Count 8th notes out loud

Using the “Basic Beats” patterns, play 2 bars of the pattern followed by 2 bars of filling. I want you to improvise the fills (make them up on the spot)

Isobel

Here are the patterns written out. Pattern 1 is played during the verses and choruses, and pattern 2 is played during the “bridge” (2 minutes into the linked video). The bridge finishes at the 3-minute mark, which is when you should go back to playing pattern 1.

Ewan

To properly use your drum mat, you need to sit on a chair where your feet touch the floor. Put your drum mat on a second chair in front of you. Because it’s difficult to hear the bass drum when it’s coming out of the drum mat’s built-in speaker, you should use headphones. They make the bass drum sound louder. Plug your headphones into the back of the speaker where it says “headphones”. Have a speaker/computer/tablet/etc. next to you to play the song out of.

Here are the patterns written out. Pattern 1 is played during the verses and choruses, and pattern 2 is played during the “bridge” (2 minutes into the linked video). The bridge finishes at the 3-minute mark, which is when you should go back to playing pattern 1.

JUNE 1 – 6 HOMEWORK

Ezra

Same homework as last week.

Elora

Same homework as last week.

Ewan and Isobel

Please bring your drum mat and its accessories to our lesson.

FOR ISOBEL AND EWAN ONLY

Please bring your drum mat to your lessons. Thank you.

MAY 25-30 HOMEWORK

Ezra

Best Song Ever pattern #9

Count 8th notes out loud.

Practice with a metronome. The clicks are quarter notes. Start at 45 bpm. Once you have played through all the patterns, do it again but with the metronome at 50 bpm. Then at 55, etc., until you get to 80. Don’t go faster than that.

Count one bar of 8th notes before you start playing the pattern.

Basic Beats + fills

Using the “Basic Beats” patterns, play 2 bars of the pattern followed by 2 bars of filling. I want you to improvise the fills (make them up on the spot). We did something similar in our lesson a few weeks ago. To keep your fills simple, you can start by playing quarter notes around the drums set. Then, try using a combination of quarter notes and rests. Then, try adding in 8th notes. Experiment.